Legendary Celtic captain Scott Brown reckons his old club are a "class above" anyone else in the Scottish Premiership - and now he's challenged them to make their mark on a European stage.

Brendan Rodgers' men begin their latest Champions League campaign with a home tie against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, providing Celtic an ideal opportunity to get points on board early into the new league phase. 

Brown, who is currently manager of Ayr United in the Scottish Championship, has been impressed by the squad Rodgers has built and doesn't see why they can't emulate their unbeaten domestic form when they meet continental opposition over the coming month's. 

Speaking on Premier Sports' show, The Scottish Football Social Club, the former Celtic skipper said: "They've been excellent. Not conceded a goal in the league, dominating games. Brendan has always wanted to play possession-based football, and he's got a drive to make sure that every single player gets better. 

"They work hard and they look after themselves. You can see its proven the case yet again. Celtic look a class above everybody else in the league.

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(Image: PA) "Whether they are playing Rangers or playing Hearts, they are dominating games, and that's what's exciting about watching them at this moment in time.

"The players that they have brought in will hopefully enhance the squad in the Champions League as well, because the hardest thing in football is to go from the Champions League back to the SPL because there is a big difference. Especially how hard the lads have to work in the Champions League games."

Asked for his take on the fresh format that's being rolled out across the three European cup competitions this season, and whether Celtic can realistically progress to the next round, Brown stated: "I think the home games are going to be huge for them.

"They need a good start and to be fair Wednesday (vs Slovan Bratislava) is probably the best fixture they could've hoped for. It's at home in front of the fans against Bratislava. If they can get three points there then I think they'll be in a really good position. 

"I think the strength and depth of squad is going to help them, as in Champions League then going back into the SPL as well because Brendan can obviously rotate players and leave players ready for certain games.

"There's going to be some huge games; you are going to Dortmund away from home, Atalanta away from home, down to Aston Villa. They will want to go and compete. They always want to play Brendan's style of football, pressing teams up the park and causing teams problems, and he won't go away from that. 

"I think that's the best thing from that squad but now you've got to go and do that in the Champions League as well."

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Meanwhile fellow panelist Michael Stewart discussed the impact made by Arne Engels and Luke McCowan after the summer signings opened their Celtic goalscoring accounts against Heart of Midlothian on Saturday.

"Huge," the ex-Hearts and Hibernian midfielder described their contributions. "A great moment for both the guys, their first goals for the club.

"Obviously for Luke McCowan being a Celtic supporter, I think Brendan Rodgers spoke about it after the game, that it's a special goal.

"He is somebody that I think a lot of Celtic supporters are looking at thinking he's a good player but is maybe going to be a squad player. But I genuinely do believe, with the amount of games Celtic have got and the quaility he's got, that he'll be knocking on the door to really have a shout at playing in the big games. I think he's a really top talent.

(Image: PA) "Engels looks good as well, the two of them are good additions.

"The one position I'm just slightly unsure of for Celtic is in that wider area. Just a bit of that X Factor, someone that could do something out of nothing at that Champions League level. That can potentially win them a game. I'm just not sure they're as strong in that area as they are everywhere else.

"For me, James Forrest, I still think he's the best. And I wonder whether he was rested at the weekend because he'll be starting against Slovan Bratislava."